“Judas had the world’s weapons. Jesus had not one of them, and chose not the world’s means of defence. ‘He opened not his mouth.’ The great demonstrator of Truth and Love was silent before envy and hate.” (Science and Health, page 48)

Deception, ignorance, selfishness, and pride fueled Judas and those who accused Jesus. They sought to blame and shame and persecute this inspired man, using any reason they could to find innocence guilty.  They twisted Jesus’s own words against him in hopes of incriminating him toward their own ends.

Judas betrayed Jesus with the world’s weapons, which included self-justification and fear. He chose money and prestige and aligned himself with human power, believing that would be his salvation. Jesus, on the other hand, drew upon divine power, that which was truly saving.

Through his awareness of God’s presence and his oneness with Him, Jesus did not need to lower himself to fighting through self-defensiveness, egotism, or reverse accusation. He did not open his mouth. He kept silent before the adversary, thus giving no life or power to envy and hate. Jesus wasn’t passively setting himself out as prey for wolves by his silence. He was actively aligning himself with the only real power—divine Truth and Love. This was his salvation. This complete devotion to Love demonstrated eternal Life, freeing him from the grave of complicity with mortal beliefs and uplifting him to his true estate of glory, joy, peace.

Jesus is our example. Resist the temptation to get in the mud with hate and envy and fear. Be silent and certain in the safety of Love’s everlasting protection and affection.

These messages are based on passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. These books are our “pastor” in Christian Science. Come back every Tuesday and Thursday for fresh inspiration. Or get a free subscription to receive an inspirational message like this one every morning directly to your inbox by contacting me at lamolitercs@aol.com. Put “subscribe” in the subject line. A downloadable compilation of categorized messages is also available by request.